Arco da Rua Augusta

The Arco da Rua Augusta is a triumphal arch at the southern end of Rua Augusta in Lisbon's Baixa district, marking the boundary between the pedestrian shopping street and the grand waterfront Praça do Comércio. The arch was designed in the neoclassical style and completed in 1873, nearly 120 years after the 1755 earthquake that it was originally planned to commemorate — the protracted construction reflecting the enormous economic disruption of the post-earthquake rebuilding. The arch stands 30 metres tall, and its facade is crowded with allegorical sculpture: at the apex, the figure of Glory crowns Valour and Genius, flanked by personifications of the rivers Tagus and Douro; below are four standing figures representing the heroes Viriato, Nuno Álvares Pereira, Vasco da Gama, and the Marquis of Pombal. The arch is free to view from either side at all times. A paid tower access allows visitors to take a small lift (and then stairs) to the rooftop, where a 360-degree balcony delivers views north along Rua Augusta to the Rossio and south to the Praça do Comércio and the Tagus. The rooftop is narrow and exposed, holding only a small number of visitors at a time. A visit including the tower takes 30–45 minutes. The arch is most dramatically photographed from Praça do Comércio looking north, particularly at sunset when the arch is backlit.